For nearly the past month, the nation’s economy has been at a standstill as a result of the government response to mitigate the Chinese coronavirus.
Now a group of businessmen and national leaders are asking President Donald Trump to get the country back to work.
Signing onto an open letter originally published at Town Hall, are Tim Dunn, the CEO of Crownquest Operating and chairman of Empower Texans; Kareem Lanier, co-chairman of the Urban Revitalization Project; and Dr. Darrell Scott, pastor at the New Spirit Revival Center and CEO of the Urban Revitalization Coalition.
In the letter, the group pleads to get America back on its feet, as Trump is reportedly weighing when and how to reopen the country.
“We have seen your heartfelt concern for American lives. You took bold steps to protect America from an invisible threat,” they write. “But, as you have said numerous times, we must not allow the cure to be worse than the disease.”
The solution? Allowing Americans to share the national burden:
Although the threat posed by the virus remains invisible, your COVID-19 Team has convinced us with data that, together, we can manage this crisis. Let Americans manage their own risks. Each one of us can determine for ourselves how best to proceed. The at-risk population can take extreme precautions with support from their communities. Businesses and employees can make workplace adjustments. Your team has urged personal responsibility. The vast majority of Americans have heeded this request, and today the IHME model projects coronavirus deaths will account for just 2% of annual deaths, far fewer than many other diseases.
In recent days, Trump has indicated that he is working with governors and his advisors on how to reopen the economy and that a decision will be made shortly.
As he prepares to do so, there has been a rise in those who seek to wind back restrictions as projections on the virus’ impact have been substantially improved while many Americans have seen their own financial situations significantly worsen over the past month.
“Let’s get every American back to making their own decisions, back to caring for each other, and back to work,” the group concludes in their letter. “Let’s get America back on her feet—together.”
